Lighting means for auditoriums and other places.



F. e. MCBHERSON. LIGHTING MEANS FOR AUDITORIUMS AND OTHER PLACES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20| I9I5.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916. 2 SHEETS-SIIEET I.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY F. G. NICPHERSON. l LIGHTING MEANS FOR AUDITORIUMS AND OTHER PLACES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20. IQIS.

Patented Mar. 21, 15H6.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK G. MUPHEBSN, 0F BEAVER FALLS. PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SHADO- LITE MFG. C0., INC., OF BEAVER 'EA'.L'LS. PENNSYLVANIA, A COBPORATIQN OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LIGHTING MEANS FR AUDITRUMS AND OTHER PLACES.

Application Med February 20, i915.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK G. McPH'en- SON, a citizen of the United States residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Lighting Means for ituditorimns and other Places. of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to lighting means for auditoriums. etc., and its object is to furnish ample light to that part of the auditorium occupied by the audience with out obtruding the light so furnished upon that portion ot' the auditorium toward which the eyes of the audience are directed.

I In motion picture theaters in which a Screen is employed at one end. in iiriliuarjif theaters Where a stage is provided et ons end. and in other auditoriuins where (i. plat form or the like is provided ai one mail. it s desirable to bring that rod ot the auditorium toward which the eyes of thtJ nadien are directed into pronunence and it is the usual custom to so darken the auditorium or to so dimly light it that the little light that may be present does not interfere with the desired prominence ot that portion of the audito riuIn toward which the eyes of the audience are directed, and which is then suiliciently` light to bring it into distinct prominence. In the case of the motion piilrture auditorium the screen is the part to be uicwed.

By the present invention ticportiou of the auditorium occupied by thc audience is at all times well lighted. huil the lighting is not permittedlto reach the screen. stage or other part of the auditoriungtoward uhirli the attention of the audienoeiisto hr i'lirecteal, wherefore the attention of the audienrc is not distracted from the screen or stage. since the View of such parts of the auditorium not dimmed by the light employed to illuminate that part of the auditorium occupied by the audience.

It has been the custom to either furtif. guish practically all the lights used to illeiminate the audienci` part of the auditorium when in ordinary theaters the ilierornuince is going on upon the stage. and it is llie cus tom in motion picture theaters to employ as little light as possible iu the audience part of the audito 'iuni so as to avoid liinmiun Specification et' 'Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

semi No. 9.650.

the screen and the picture there displayed. in tht motion picture theater the Condition is sometimes compromised by employing a stronger illumination vin the a'udience part of the aiulitoriuni which results in a corre spondiuig illun'iination .of the screen and then `in a ,measure overcoming such illunii nation the i e of a much stronger illuniinatinp.I means in the projecting apparatus, thus adding materially to the cost of operation.

With the present invention it is possible to so illuminate the` audience part of the auditorium even to a point adjacent to the :sf-,reen end ol' the auditorium to suoli an extent that meniliers of the audience may quite 'ly wad ordinary print. while :it the saine time tlze` ellea'i; of the illun'iination is not materiali;` apparent upon the screen and the latter is iu a suliciently dense shadow to permit a iuurli uralter illumination on the sereni; ol' thi' igiirture in lorder to make it inorr Nearly and prominently visible than has lieii-trii'ore been possible even when the ai-iditorium li: s heen dimly illuminated.

The invention will be best understood from a Consideration of the following de tailed description. laken in connection /witl'i the arcoinpanving drawinirs forming" a part of this specificati-.in with the further understanding: that While the drawings show a practical form of the inrention. the latter is rf eonlined to any strict eonl'orniitv `with the showing of the drawings. lgiut may liey changed and modified so 'long as such changes and modifications ma rkmo mate-inl floi'iarture 'from the salient features of the invention.

fin the drawings: Figure l is a schematic representation of the auditorium of an ordi-- nary theater provided with ay stage and showing? the application of the present iiirention thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective rien of an. illuminating element as, seen from below. Fig. il is a linigljitiuiinal wertifral ventral eviction of the illuminating ric nient ol*l Ifig. Fig. -l is a seu-tion fio thc lisse l ot' Fig. il. Fil. 5 a station on tir'.l lim :'iY---L'i of Fig, E. Fig, (l Grosser-'Stien of tho reflector support,

Referring lil-.st to Figs. to I there is shown a easing 1 'which may be of generally Cil rectangular contour, and this casin may also he considerably longer than road,

while it varies considerably in depth.

Considering the casing as in the operative position it has a closed rear end wall 2 eX- tending the full depth of' the casing, and a front wall 3 of considerably less depth. Extending t'orwardlj,v from the bottom of the rear wall L is a bottoni wall l terminating in a low opstanding front portion or Wall 5 spaced from the rear Wall by a distance considerably less than half the, length of the casing, From the top of the wall 5 toward the front wall l the sides f5 of the casing are of' progressively lessening width until the front wall Il reached. so that these side walls l cach hai ts bott z edge Tslanting from the rear ttnvard front. The casing- 1 has a closed top 8 `while the bottom from the wall 5 to the Wall 3 is freely open. i

Secured Within the casing 1. immediately beneath the top is a longitudinally disposed reflector Si) usually of white enameled n'ietal, but this reflector may ne made oi any suitable material whereby light reaching' it from a suitable source is diverted into an.u other path. ln the particular showing of the dran ings the reflector Si is of inverted V- shape with the sides of the V at appro\imately right angles one to the other and thel apev of the V closely adjacent to the under :face of" the top 8 at about its longitudinal center line. The reflector may, therefore, be described as having divergent reecting surfaces extendingr lengthwise of the casing, hut this does not preclude the use of other types of reflectors. The longitudinal uiar- ,grins of the reflector 9 are in the forni of llano-es 10 lying flat against the inner surfaces of the side Walls G at a distance aho've the inclined lower margin 7 of these Walls. Since it is customamY to make the casing l of sheet metal it advisable to cover those portions of' the inner surface of the casing l at points below the reliector 9 with some fibrous or non-reflective material indicated at'11. and this material may consist of cloth 6r the like cemented or otherwise secured to the inner Walls of the casing 1 at all points where there is any liability of distracting reflections.

In order to secure the reflector' 9 in 'the casing, bolts 12 are passed through Vthe flanges 10 and the walls G. and these bolts may ,he located at the ends of the reflector and at intermediate points. Those bolts at the ends of the reflector cru-respond in position to thel ends of the casing 1 and the bolts are there continued through and bevond the side walls (l of the casingr and have hooks 13 applied to them for the purpose of receiving' suspension chains 1l permitting` the hanging' of' the casing 1 from the ceiling7 of the auditorium, or of galleries or the like therein. The chains 1&1 may be such Vas are customarib employed in units of the suspended type `and provide both an ornamental and a useful means for carrying the casinos when at the desired height and inclination, since hoth the height and incliiy ion of these casings must he varied under ditleriiugr circmnstances.

Secured to the bottom wall l Within the space defined lietiveen the back wall 2 and intermediate wall 5 is a socket 15 such as is customailj,v employed for the reception of an incandeerent electric lamp, one of which shown at It?. Usually a single incandescent lamp 16 of Suitable power is all that is needed. hat this does not preclude the use of a group of lamps if such he found desirable. ln inost instances a hundred watt tungsten lamp is all that is needed for each lighting unit 1, but higher or lower power lamps may he used as circumstances demand. Through the rear wall 2 there produced an elongated upright slot 17 which in most part may he :rhone the longitudinal middle line of the casina l. This slot is covered by an elongated liioclz 'i8 applied to the exterior ol' the wall 53 and there held by bolts 19 extending through the block near the ends and also through the slot 17. By sup plving these holte` 1l) with wing mns 20 or other similar nuts, the block' 1S mayv be adjusted up and down the hack wall 2 of the casing l, the slot i7 heiner long enough for the purpose. 'The block 18 is traversed by a longitudinal series of holes an)v1 one of which may receive a rod 22 carrying at one end a reflector 2B by means of a jointed connection and this reflector ma)7 be readily adjusted from the exterior by providing the rod at the end ren'iote from the reflector with a milled nutg or head 255. The reflector 23 is lodged within that end of the casing defined heaireen the walls and and in suitable relation to the lamp, so that there is projected through the open bottom of the caf 'ng 1 a forward beam of light. The re flector is shown as of' semi-spherr shape, but it will be understood that this reflector may he of any other suital-le shape, whereby the light is directed forwardly through the open hottom 'of the box or ing. The major portion of the light of the lamp 1G is proiected forwardly, hut more or less ol the light finds its way dowmvardlv because of the reflector i) and some of the light is also directed rearmirdly of the lighting unit 1 as permitted hy the Wall il, which latter, however. hides from riexv the lamp `1G and reflector 223. and also hides all View of the lamp socket l5.

The inclined edges 7 of the side walls 6 provide for a side spread of' the light without rheliahilitv ol' this side spread reaching 'no along; the side walls of the auditorium in a manner to cause reflections which might electric lighting' illuminate porti-ons of the auditorium which it is desired to keep dim.

Theefect of the lighting unit of the .26 of atheater or other place provided with a stage27 and galleries 28. It will be understood, of course, that the showing of the auditorium -26yis without any attempt at proportions andfrnay beQta'ken as representative either ofan. ordinary theaterhaving a stage27, or-a motion picture theater where the stage is replaced bya screen on which the motion pictures vare displayed, or of any auditorium where it is desired-that the portionrepresented .by the stage 27-shal1 be viewed byv the audience without being affected by themeans of supplying light to that portion "of the auditorium occupied by the audience. j

In a lighting 4problem such as presented in Fig. 1 lighting units 1 are suspended from the ceiling under' the first gallery, from the c eiln under the second gallery, and from -the ceiling of the auditorium since two galleries are indicated.

With respect to the galleries 28 it is not desirable that any light used in the illuinination of the galleries shall extend beyond the front railing 29 of these galleries, while in the-case of the door portion of the auditorium the lighting should extend to the stage, but not on to the stage. For this reason lighting units 1 are suspended from the ceiling underneath the lower gallery close 4 to the front thereof, so that the light may be projected over the audience toward the stage, whilethe rear portion of the floor of the auditorium is illuminated by other units 1 placedunder the rear of the lower gallery. I n the galleries themselves the lighting units In each instance the lighting units l a're so tipped with respect to their length that the shadow cast by the lower edge of the front wall 3 will not rise quite as high as the stage, or as the top of the railings 29 of the galleries. Since in ordinary theaters it is quite common to extend the galleries around the sides of the auditorium as many lighting units l are provided as may be needed and the same is true as to the lighting of the main Hoor of the auditorium in ordinary theaters pro-vided with stages, such auditoriums being quite wide with respect to their length. Many motion picture auditoriums are, however, quite narrow and much longer than' wide. In such case the lighting units are disposed as needed at diflferentl points along the length of the auditorium, but a're tipped so that the edge of the shadow cast by the lower edge of the front wall 3 at no time reaches ontl the screen. Such shadow line is very marked and the light produced by each lighting element is very strictly localized both by .the bottom edge of the front V.a manner to in any way materially dim the screen or stage or the like. Since the lightv ing units are placed above the audience part of the auditorium, and in most instances well to the rear, it is the backs of the audience and the backs of the seats which are illuminated, while the screen or stage, when neither is lighted up, is cast into a markedly deep shadow. Actual experience has shown that it is quite easy, to read a book or newspaper within the'sp'ac'e occupied by the audience because of the illumination due to the presence of the illuminating units of the present invention, but the screen or stage, il not lighted up, .is scarcely visible, while to the eyes of the audience the seeming dimness of then'lluminated portion of the auditorium is accentuated. The result ot' this is that the auditorium where occupied by the audience is well lighted, and a person fntering the auditorium from av brilliantly lighted exterior, is able to see quite distinctly without waiting for theeyes to become. accustomed to the lighting of the auditorium.

In the ordinary theater it is customary to completely darken the auditorium in order to permit various stage effects, especially where the stage is to be dimly lighted, and which effects would be entirely lost if the auditorium "were illuminated suliiciently to affect the stage l' hting. In motion picture theaters where he audience is constantly changing, lighting of the auditorium to some extent is Idemanded, and by the means usually emfployed for the purpose the screen is correspondingly illuminated by the lighting schemes provided in the auditorium portion of the theater. -Consequently in motion picture theaters a marked intensification of the light at the projecting apparatus is necessary. Thus 4the running eX penses of the theater are increased without even then obtaining a satisfactory illumination of the audience part of the auditorium.

With the present invention the audience portion cf the auditorium is far more bril liantly illuminated than is customary Without to any noticeable extent affecting either scribed and claimed in Letters Patent No.

1,121,635, granted to me on January 12, 1914, for lighting means for motion picture u'ditoriums. A

The lighting unit is useful in `other-places than'motion picture and other theaters, for it'may be .used'infactories bowling alleys, and many other places. j Therefore, the word anditorium as used in the vclaims is to beconsidered "as comprehending any place where the lighting unit'. is useful.

What is c'laimed is:

1:. Anfilluminating element foiran anditoriiim comprising any elongated box or casing of opaque material closed at the top, sides and ends, and at the bottom for a frac tional portion of the length of the casing, with the lower margins of the sides of the box from the closed'bottomtoward the other end ofthe casing inclined, a light-giving means lodged in that portion of the box provided with the,closed bottom, elongated reecting means within the casing extending lengthwise of the box or casing adjacent to the top thereof, and mea-ns for supporting the illuminating element in position to light the door of the auditorium and to place other parts of the auditorium in the shadow1 pro-- duced by the opaque top, sides and end of the casing remote from the light-giving means. v v 2. An illinznatif-g element for an auditorium comprising an elongated' box or casing of opaque'material closed at the top, sides and ends, and at the bottom for a fractional portion of the length of th'e 'casing, with the lower margins of the sides of the box from the closed bottom toward the otherv end of the casing inclined, alightgiving means lodged in that portion of the box provided with the closed bottom, elongated reflecting means within the casing ex.- tending lengthwise of the b x or casing adjacent to the top thereof, an j mean's for supporting the illuminating element in positio'n tolight thefioor of the luiditorium and to place other parts of the aiiditorium in the shadow produced by the opaque top,vsides and end of the casing i'einotef from the lightgiving means, said casing containing a reflectorassociated with the light-giving means to project light forwardly from the bv x or casing through the' open bottom thereof. c

3. vAn illuminating;r element for auditoriums comprising an elongated box or casing of opaque material closed at the topsides and ends with one end of greater depth than the other and such end of greater depth being provided with a closed bottom extending for a fractional portion of the length of the box toward the end of less depth, and

" the sides of the box being inclined from the vided with a forwardly projecting bottom' portion terminating inanupstanding wall with the sides of the box inclined vfrom vthe last-named wall to the front ofthe box, a light-giving means lodged in the portioniof the box provided withthe bottom, divergent reflectorswitliin the box adjacent to the topv portion thereof and extending lengthwise of the box, and reflecting means associated with `the light-giving element for ldirectin light therefrom through the-open bottom o the box.

5. An illuminating element for auditoriums comprising an elongated box orcasing of opaque material closed at the top, sides..

and ends with 'the end constituting the front end of the .box of less depth than the other end and the end ofgreater depth being provided .with a .forwardly projecting bottom portion terminating in an opstanding wall with the sides of the boxl inclined from the last-named wall tothe. frontofthe box, a light-giving means lodged in` the portion of,

bottom of the box, said reflecting means being provided with a. support adjustable .as

to height, Iand the box havingV suspending means associated with the box for varying p its longitudinal inclination.

6. An illuminating element .for V'auditoriunis comprising an elongated box or casingf.

of opaque material closed. at the top, sides and ends and haring a `lclosed bottom ex- .C tending for a fractional portion of the distance from the rear end toward the front and Said. rear end o'f the box being of g 'eaterl depth than the front end with the :freni of the fractional bottom ofthe box provided with an opstanding wall und the' sidesjof the box having the lowerx edges'inclinedvv from the upper edge of said upstandi'ng wall to the front wall of the box, divergent, re-

vfiectors extending within ythe'boxlongitudinally thereof in close relation to theunder surface of the top 'of the' box, light-giving means within that portion of the box provided with .the closed bottom, a rctector edge ilo.

invoer# tlefiztor as fated h the illuminating means for ilirerlnig iight 'toruardly through the open bottom nl' ilic box.

il 2i llliii'iliiiL compiisino` :in rio i illumina :neunA4 h' with the bottoni minion iri'ni the housing mit tour with the drptli ot the box de said other or i'oru'ziril ein] ngitudiniflyflisposed plone diwrriir r dors uiihin the box wiih nieetin f edges oi the reflecti'ns in the longitudinal renter lino of the top of the box, and a conta ve reiicctoi' in that por tion ot the box housing the illuminating means and associated with said illuminating means to dirent light therefrom forwardly' through the open bottom of the box.

Si. An illuminating means for anilitoriums comprising an elongated closure having top, ends and sides closed and the bottom open, elongated reflecting means within the closure in ,fixed relation thereto, said reflecting means being located wliacent lo the top and extended donn the`sicles o e closure, a source ot' light within the closureI Iiezu one end thereof and below the rellecting means?, and other reflecting means is: -lted with thel source ot' lightvto cause the light to be projected directly throz'igh the open bottom ol' the closure in the geneizzl direction of the length of the cloruro toivarrl the front thereof.

10. Illuminating means lfor auditorinms comprising an elongated closure tapering in depth from one end toward the other und having the top, lund erols closed with the bottom open. a source ol light within the closure near the larger end thereof; reflecting means within the closure adjacent to the top thereof and nsooiated with the source of light to direct the light tiownwardl'v through the open bottoni`r und other reflecting means associated with the source oi' light to cause the direct proieetion of the light through the open bottoni in the genu eral direction of the length of the closure toward the front thereof.

1l. Illuminating means for auditoriums comprising an elongated closure ha 'ing the top, ends and sides closed and open through the bottom, one end of the closure having an elongated slot extending in the direction oi the depth ot the closure, n block provided ith means assoeiatcrl with the slotted end oi the eloeure 'for securing the block thereio in the adjusted positirns, said block being por florl with a longitudinal series of pa; ages, :i reflector having supporting means' adapted to :in v one of the series of ges tor holding the reector in aded positions, and a source of light housed in the closure in operative relation to the reflector.

hl, fin illuminating means for auditoriums comprising an elongated box or casing with top, ends, and sides closed, and having an opening through the bottom occupying the in or portion of the length of the box the remainder of the bottom of the and said box where closed being te dooh thon at the other end with n oorlog toward said other end, a light housed in the larger end of the bien rione d reflecting means within the box l'niving reflecting surfaces diverging 'rom a line close to and lengthwise of the :op of the box to lower .lines along the sides ot' the box, another reflector associ ated with the source of light to project the light through the open bottom of the box in the general direction of the length of the box, and supporting means for the box for suspending it in desired positions of inclination.

13. Au illuminating means for auditoriums comprising an elongated box or casing with top, ends and sides closed und having an opening' through the bottom occupying the major portion of the length of the box with the remainder of the bottom of the box closed, and said box Where closed being of greater depth than. at. the other end with the sides tapering toward said other end, a source oi? light housed in the larger end of the boxT un elongated reflecting means haring divergent reiecting surfaces and lodged in the box adjacent to and below the top thereof, another reflector associated with the source of light to project the light through the open bottom of the box in the grue-ral direction of the length of the box, und supporting means for the box for suspending it in desired positions of inclination. the reflector associated with the source of light having means for its adjustment into ditl'erent operative positions with reference to said source of light.

i4. An illuminating means for auditori ums comprising :in elongated box or casing having a torny ends and sides closed, and open :it the bottom for the major portion of the length at one end, and the remainder ot the box at the other end being closed at the bottom and there of greater depth than the portion of the box provided with the Qi. Trini si um ot the source o1" open bottom, said last-named portion tapering tamu-d the other end of the box, and the deeper end of the box where provided with the closed hcttom having :in upstanding will jrining the side walls Where tapering, a redentor with divergent reflecting surfaeeg lodged in the box adjacent to and beneath the top of the box und extending! lengthwise thereof, a source of light housed in the Clrsed end of the hox, f1 reflector in said closed end vf the box assrciated with light to project the light through the open bottom in the general direction of the length of the box, said refleetor being provided with an adjustable Support frr varying the relation of the relecor to the source. of light, and suspendlng means for the box for supporting it in any desired degree of longitudinal inclination.

In testimf'ny. that I claim the foregoingr my own, l have hereto al'lixed my signature in the presence of two W1tnesses.

FRANK. MCPHERSON.

vitnesfres DANIEL C.. TnnxoNs, V. TAKRAmo. 

